Printing Apparatus Seamless Data Line Integration
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Solution Overview
Problem
In thermal printers that divide print data into multiple segments, there is a possibility of increased intervals between print images due to the inability to seamlessly combine the last line of one data set with the first line of the next, leading to inefficiencies in printing.
Innovation Solution
A printing apparatus with a control device that manages a print head and conveyance system, which combines the last lines of one print data set with the first lines of the next, ensuring seamless integration and reducing print image intervals by controlling the print head elements and conveyance in the sub-scanning direction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If print data is divided into multiple segments for printing, then printing can be performed continuously, but intervals between print images increase
Solution Approach 1:
The control device performs preliminary combining of the last dot line of one print data with the first dot line of the next print data before printing. This preliminary action ensures that when printing is divided into multiple segments, the dot lines are pre-integrated to eliminate intervals, maintaining print image continuity while enabling continuous printing processing.
Solution Approach 2:
The control device merges the last dot line of one print data with the first dot line of the next print data by combining their dot patterns. This merging operation creates a seamless transition between divided print segments, eliminating gaps and ensuring continuous print images while allowing the printing system to process data in manageable chunks.
2Manufacturing precision
If the last dot line of one print data is combined with the first dot line of the next, then print image continuity is improved, but processing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control device performs the combining operation as a preliminary step before the actual printing process. By pre-combining the last dot line of one print data with the first dot line of the next print data, the system prepares integrated print data that ensures continuity. This preliminary processing approach simplifies the overall control logic by handling the complexity upfront rather than during printing execution.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach effectively reduces the interval between print images by ensuring continuous printing without gaps, enhancing the printing efficiency and quality.
Implementation Method 1
a thermal printer that prints on thermal paper by using a thermal line head provided with a plurality of heating elements. By sequentially heating the plurality of heating elements
Data Source
AI summary
A printing apparatus includes a print head, a conveyance device and a control device configured to: obtain image data each corresponding to a respective divided image; generate print data, including combining at least two lines of a plurality of lines obtained by dividing the divided image; print the print image based on the print data; determine whether to perform printing based on next print data after performing the printing based on one print data; if yes, stop printing of a predetermined number of lines from an end of the one print data when performing the printing based on the one print data; and combine a first line of the one print data and a second line of the next print data, the number of the first and the second lines corresponding to the predetermined number of the lines.